Gladiator

by Seyary-Minamoto

In a world where the Avatar wasn't found, the Fire Nation took over two nations and they strive to overcome the last one. Water Tribe warrior Sokka seeks to fight for his people's rights, but he's captured by his enemies. His life is no longer in his hands as he fights as a Gladiator, and his fate will eventually depend on the Fire Nation Princess, who needs him for her own ends...

156. Chapter 156: Haru's Family 5

"Come on then, just… stretch carefully. You can do this," Song said. Sokka swallowed hard and leaned backwards on the couch. "You can stop if it hurts too much …"

"I'm fine, I… ah, hurts!" he shouted, but instead of stopping, he kept leaning back.

"Sokka!" Azula shouted, eyes wide as she darted a hand towards him.

Just then, a loud crack snapped across the Palace's room. Sokka's eyes flew open as his jaw dropped, and he breathed sharply, rubbing his back as Song and Azula were stunned in horror before him. Rui Shi stood further back: he had been witnessing the scene quietly, but he couldn't help but flinch at the loud sound, too.

"Okay… okay. I think that's fixed now," he said, with a silly smile. Azula huffed.

"Fixed? Maybe you broke it some more, instead!" she exclaimed. Sokka chuckled as Song shook her head in his direction.

"I guess you'll feel uncomfortable for a few hours, but if it's all fixed you should be better by tomorrow," she said, inspecting Sokka's back once more. It was bruised, but she didn't sense any other signs of injury beyond that.

"Your recklessness will be the end of you one day. You know that, right?" Azula asked him, with a skeptical glare. Sokka smiled dorkily.

"There's a lot of things that will be the end of me, apparently," he said. "As long as they don't catch up to me I'll be fine, no need to worry…"

"Psh, no need to worry…" Azula repeated, shaking her head in disbelief.

Sokka smiled warmly at her, unsurprised to see her as paranoid as ever over his wellbeing. He hoped she might relax and cheer up if he behaved as carelessly as he ever did, so he reached towards her hand to reassure her gently. She still tried to glare at him, but she couldn't conceal her relief upon seeing he was feeling better by now. Her fingers squeezed his ever so slightly.

"Well, other than that, he only has a few scrapes, nothing that can't be tended to," Song said, smiling at them, impervious to their little shared moment. "That's a good start for a Tournament like this, isn't it?"

"Truthfully, yes. It was an intense fight," Azula commented. Her hand moved to cup Sokka's face gently, and he turned his face into it, humming in pleasure at her touch.

"Can't I take a break for a week or two, though? I feel so sore…" he said, with a sigh. Azula huffed.

"You know you can't. I know your back hurts, but this is hardly anything compared with the shape you were in during the last tournament," she said, raising her eyebrows. He smiled guiltily at her. "You've had way worse than this."

"I suppose I just got used to winning more easily," he chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'll stop asking for the universe to go easy on me, it'd probably just do the opposite thing to spite me, after all. But I really could use a nice break either way…"

"You'll get one, when we're on our way home. For now, you'll rest here, and you'll go back to the ring in the morning," Azula said. "I don't know who your next opponents will be, but if the Ruthless Hero and the Lady of Laogai were anything to go by, clearly you're up against serious rivals in this contest."

"I'll try not to worry too much about that, though," said Sokka, shrugging as Azula pulled her hand back. "The less stressed I am about my opponents, the better I'll perform."

"Hopefully," said Azula, raising her eyebrows.

As they spoke, Song was busy putting away her bandages and ointments in the traveling bag she had brought with her. Rui Shi, ever helpful, picked up her utensils with her, and tucked them away in the large bag in an orderly fashion.

"I take it things have gone well with your mother?" Azula asked Song. The healer smiled brightly as she nodded.

"I… I really will never be able to thank you enough for this," she said, standing upright again to face Azula. "Talking to her through Hawky was good, but seeing her again… I'm just so glad she was taken in by Governor Tiang. Jin is very nice, has been all along, and she makes sure all slaves are treated with dignity. She's a lot like you, in that sense."

"Like… me?" Azula said, blinking blankly. Song shrugged and smiled.

"You are the Princess, but… I've never felt mistreated by you, and of course, not by Sokka either. And you've even allowed me to meet my mother again… nothing I ever do will be enough to repay you."

Azula's eyes darkened, as her gaze moved to the floor. Song was smiling still, although the Princess's response hadn't been quite what she had expected. Azula swallowed hard and shook her head.

"You were torn away from your family, that's bad enough as it is," she said. "You should have never had to depend on me to find your mother again. I'm glad I could provide that opportunity for you, but it's no less than what you, and all other slaves, deserve. I mean, for starters you shouldn't even be slaves at all…"

"You certainly shouldn't be," said Rui Shi, nodding and looking at Song warmly. She smiled at him now.

"But hopefully that can still be amended someday," Azula said, her hand reaching up to stroke Sokka's hair. He gave her a goofy grin. "In the meantime, we'll do whatever it takes to make your lives a little easier."

"Easier? Here I thought you'd been complicating mine, instead," Sokka teased her. Azula smirked down at him as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"You're the one who complicates his own life, mind you," she said.

She pulled away from him just instants before hearing footsteps approaching the room. She put more distance between herself and Sokka, casually but warily. They were in a private room, and there had been no potential lurkers nearby when she chose it, but they would do best to be careful all the same.

Her anxiety eased a little when Ty Lee came through the door and, behind her, Haru. Azula could recognize the redness in Ty Lee's eyes as the sign of tears, but her smile was genuine all the same. The Princess raised an eyebrow, surprised to see the two of them in such better moods, with Ty Lee's hand was locked around Haru's.

"Hey, guys… we were told you were in one of these rooms," Ty Lee said, beaming at Azula.

"Did you bring Haru for another health check-up?" Azula asked, gesturing at Song. The healer blinked in the earthbender's direction, but Haru smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

"No, we came here to let you know we've figured things out," said Ty Lee, with an unusually shy grin. Azula raised her eyebrows. "And, well… we've made a decision."

"A decision? Sounds big…" Azula said, feeling slightly uneasy upon hearing those words, but Ty Lee nodded enthusiastically.

"We'll finish the Tournament with you guys, of course," she said, smiling still as she gestured at Azula and Sokka. "But after that… we'll stay behind in the Earth Kingdom."

"You'll do what, now?" Sokka said, standing up and looking at Haru with confusion. "How come?"

"Well, I… I told Ty Lee I'd like to try my luck with finding my family," Haru confessed. "Song's success inspired me to try to do the same thing, and… I don't know if it will work out or not, but Ty Lee wanted to come with me all the same."

"I do," Ty Lee said, smiling happily at him before turning towards Azula again. "So… yeah. I know it's sudden, and you're probably really confused, but… that's what we'll do."

"Huh. Well, that's… good," said Azula, with a small smirk. "I guess all your problems are behind you now?"

"U-uh, well, something like that, I guess?" said Ty Lee, with a shrug. Azula raised an eyebrow. "Either way, you don't have to worry about any of this anymore! We'll find our way back home once Haru has his answers too, no need to worry about that either…"

"Good to know," said Azula, shrugging as well. "Though I am curious. How do you plan on finding them? Will you stay in Ba Sing Se, ask Tiang for help, or…?"

"That… I doubt I can do that," said Haru, frowning. "I'm not that important, am I?"

"Sure you are!" Ty Lee declared stubbornly. Haru smiled as he blushed, but Ty Lee's common sense, or what little there was left of it, kicked in eventually. "Though… I guess Tiang may not want to spend his resources on tracking down Haru's family, huh?"

"It's not likely," Azula admitted, nodding. "So? You don't have a plan yet?"

"Not really," said Ty Lee, grimacing "Do we need one right away? You know, Azula, we've only just decided this…"

"The lack of preparation certainly gives that away," Azula smirked. "I'm merely wondering because you two shouldn't waste years of your lives searching for people in Ba Sing Se if they might be at the other end of the continent. But of course, if that's what you want to do…"

"Well, I guess there's a few places we could start at," said Haru, frowning. "The best way would be to find the merchant who sold me, and try to ask him if he remembers who he sold my mother to, if he sold her at all…"

"What market did he sell at?" Azula asked.

"In the western Earth Kingdom, at the bay," said Haru. "It's not that far from my home village. I'd guess he's the best clue for tracking down my mother."

"Very well, then, that's a start. If you can point to that bay on a map, we can give you both a lift there, at the very least," Azula said. Ty Lee gasped in surprise. "What? You thought you'd just travel there on foot? I know you have a very wild sense of adventure, Ty Lee, but trust me, it's not nearly as fun to travel across the Earth Kingdom on foot as you may think it is…"

"I… I just didn't want to impose," said Ty Lee, with a happy smile. "You'd really do that?"

"It'll be better if I do," Azula said, with a shrug. "Both for you guys and for my peace of mind, I suppose. Either way, is your mother the only one you need to find? Did you have any siblings, or a father…?"

"I was an only child," Haru answered. "As for my father, he was taken away long before me or my mother were. The Fire Nation soldiers knew he was an earthbender, and they singled out all earthbenders for… well, I don't really know why they took them, but they did."

"And you weren't taken away along with him?" Sokka asked. "You're an earthbender too. Were you so young you couldn't do it yet, or…?"

"My mother forced me to hide my skills until we became slaves," Haru said. "She didn't want me to be taken by the soldiers, like my father was. By the time we were both enslaved, though, she thought that if my skills were known I could be sold to a rich nobleman who might make me his gladiator. Things didn't turn out quite as well as she hoped, not right away, but still…"

"Earthbender prisoners, you said…?" Azula muttered, staring down at her feet for a moment before raising her eyes again. "And the western Earth Kingdom?"

"Yeah," said Haru, looking at her with uncertainty. "Is something wrong?"

"Well… yes. Other than all the obvious things that are wrong, of course," Azula said, breathing deeply. "I heard about a settlement in the Earth Kingdom in one of my first war meetings, a rather gruesome settlement, I'd say. It was called the prison rig, and their prisoners were forced to repair Fire Nation ships or even build them from scratch. From what I understood, the place was manned specifically by earthbenders, who were kept in the middle of the ocean, in a metal contraption, working on metallic objects, all so they couldn't bend any earth at all to fight back…"

Haru's eyes widened. The rest of the room stared at Azula intently, as she tried not to feel particularly responsible over this. She'd had nothing to do with it… but she'd done nothing to stop it, either. She wouldn't have been heard if she had tried, but she hadn't even thought there was anything wrong with this back when she was only thirteen and eager to bask in the exploits of war…

"It's, technically, the precedent for the current slavery system," Azula said. "That's where everything began."

"Then… Haru's father could have been sent there?" Sokka asked, frowning. "Is that place still functioning right now?"

"As far as I know, it is," Azula said. "My father hasn't shut it down. There's a chance that your father might still be there, I suppose."

Haru lifted a hand to his forehead, his eyes lost in the horizon now. The chances to find his mother weren't so good, but finding his father…? Suddenly it seemed to be a possibility, if the Princess's words were true. Perhaps he would still be there. If he was… if he was, then Haru would find his way back to his father. Even if he couldn't find anyone else, he could reunite with him…

"I'm not trying to give you false hopes or anything," said Azula, grimacing. "I… I can't promise you'll find him. But…"

"That you know anything about earthbenders being imprisoned like this is more than I could have hoped for," said Haru, shaking his head. "Well, we need to check the bay's market for my mother, and then we'll go to that prison rig…"

"You wouldn't get any help from the rig's soldiers, though," said Rui Shi, shaking his head. "They won't cooperate willingly with an Earth Kingdom man, let alone a slave."

"Would they listen to me?" Ty Lee asked. Rui Shi sighed.

"Doubtful. I'm sorry to offer such little hopes, but… it may be difficult to find a way inside that prison rig."

"It would be, if they went on their own," Azula said, folding her arms over her chest. "But if I demand to see Haru's father… they'll have no choice but to comply, wouldn't they?"

"Azula!" Ty Lee exclaimed, a surprised but pleased smile spreading over her face while Azula shrugged.

"Why not?" she said, smiling a little. "If it helps you both…"

"That would be… oh, I'll owe you more than you can imagine," Haru said, smiling in disbelief. Azula sighed, looking at Sokka, who smiled at her.

"You slaves, seriously, constantly grateful for the smallest displays of decency…" she said, shaking her head. "Obviously, we'll only do this after the Tournament is over, so make sure to focus on that before jumping up and down in joy because I agreed to help you."

"I… yeah. I will," Haru said, smiling brightly. "It's just… well, you barely know me, but you're willing to help this much. I mean, I know it's surely because of Ty Lee, but…"

"Well, on great measure it is because of Ty Lee," said Azula, raising her eyebrows at her friend, who smiled guiltily. "But, like Song, you deserve this chance. I can't promise you'll find what you're looking for, but at least I can help you try."

"And it's more than I expected to get. You say slaves are grateful for small displays of decency…" said Haru, chuckling. "When the truth is we never see much generosity coming from anyone. But Ty Lee is so kind, and you're so helpful… I'm just really grateful to have met all of you."

"Well, that's… nice to hear," Azula said, taken aback slightly by Haru's heartfelt words. She bit her lower lip and nodded. "Anyways, make sure to focus on the Tournament. We'll take care of all this once that's over."

"Right," said Haru, smiling warmly. "Thank you again, Princess."

Ty Lee grinned brightly at Azula, who nodded in her direction now. The difference in her friend's behavior was palpable: after being so insecure and miserable, finally Ty Lee's smiles felt genuine and cheerful, the way they always used to be. Azula didn't know for sure what had happened between her friend and Haru, or how they had settled their problems, but it was a relief to know they were on the right track once more.

Their performance in the Tournament had already started off strong, but it only improved over the course of the next battles. The Slithering Shadow and the Behemoth had a very unusual fighting style: the Behemoth attacked with maces fitted with sharp spikes, and the Slithering Shadow fought by using sand as a quick whip, constantly buffeting both Sokka and Haru with his technique until Haru wrestled the earth out of his opponent's control. Sokka's sword eventually cut through the maces, leaving the Behemoth to fight with his large fists, but at that point Sokka had already obtained fighting superiority and he had defeated him before long.

Nightmare Trigger and Growing Fireblast were next: Growing Fireblast proved rather weak, but Nightmare Trigger was a force to be reckoned with. Sokka found himself wondering if female firebenders were, perhaps, more gifted at bending than men, as most the female firebenders he'd found were unbelievably talented, though none more than Azula. Still, even if he hadn't signed up to fight with Wolf's Bane, Sokka had enough experience against firebenders without the white sword: Nightmare Trigger succumbed to chi-blocking from a distance once Sokka's boomerang struck the nape of her neck. Growing Fireblast had already been defeated by then, taken down by Haru's powerful glass attacks.

Their last opponents were The Wall and The Unbreakable Pillar. The two proved to be amongst the most ruthless earthbenders Sokka had ever faced: fortunately, Haru remained level-headed through the fight and kept them at bay for the most part, successfully defending Sokka and saving him from the worst skills their opponents had in their repertoire. The ring was a crazed struggle of earthbenders who built and destroyed contraptions, who fought ruthlessly and overwhelmed the non-bender in their midst, as he tried his best to outdo his rivals nonetheless.

Sokka's opportunity to seize triumph arrived eventually, when he cut across a sturdy shield with his sword and knocked The Wall unconscious with a savage blow of his club. The Unbreakable Pillar fought valiantly until the end, but she couldn't fight nearly as well without her partner. She was strong enough to keep fighting until the time was fully spent, but she was worn out and defeated, regardless of how exhausted both Sokka and Haru were, too.

So, against their expectations, Sokka and Azula found themselves champions of another Pairs Tournament. Ty Lee had been thrilled, hugging Haru eagerly as he held their trophy. Despite Ty Lee's behavior was the same as it used to be, there was a warmth to Haru's smile these days that had been absent before. Azula had a good guess about where that had come from, but she wasn't going to give Ty Lee the satisfaction of prying into her friend's love life unasked anymore.

The Imperial Palace celebrated their success on the night before their departure. Ty Lee had enjoyed the evening thoroughly, both in Jin and Haru's company, but Azula and Sokka had snuck away as soon as it wasn't rude to do so. Despite what Song and Rui Shi suspected, though, they weren't taking off to sneak around in dark corners… or, at least, it wasn't only about that.

"You're feeling okay, though? For real?" Azula had asked him once they were in his room. They had been wary about any onlookers before slipping inside his quarters: Sokka had locked the door quickly, and by now he cradled her in his arms while lying across his bed.

"It was a fierce tournament, harsher than most fights I've faced lately," he chuckled. "But heck, I'm alive and we won, so yeah. I'm feeling fine."

"You've taken a few wounds these days, though. Nothing quite as bad as the last Tournament, but still…" Azula said, touching his bandages warily. "I'm sorry if I'm being too twitchy, but…"

"It's endearing," Sokka said, with a smirk. "My Princess, so worried about my wellbeing…"

"That's my natural state, mind you," she said, raising her eyebrows as he chuckled softly. "And you're so cruel you actually enjoy making me worry, I can tell."

"I don't enjoy making you worry, I enjoy that you love me so much that you freak out about every tiny wound I sustain. It's a nice change of pace," he said, kissing her lips softly. "I've been quite injury-prone, ever since I was a kid. It reached a point where nobody even batted an eyelash when I got hurt, but granted, it was often because of stupid reasons…"

"Like tiger seals eating your pants?" she asked, smiling. Sokka chuckled. "Or fishhooks stuck in your thumb?"

"You know it," he said, as she laughed and lifted his hand to her lips, kissing his thumb softly.

"Well, then… we'll be leaving tomorrow," she said. Sokka nodded. "I did promise you I'd get you an audience with the King, though, and I'll be damned if I won't keep my word. Are you still up for that?"

"I… yeah," said Sokka, frowning a little. "Will we do it tomorrow morning? Or tonight, right away?"

"I'm not sure," Azula said, sighing and sitting up. "I doubt it will be a good idea for everyone to know you're talking to the former Earth King, though. Considering there's a spy on our trail, even spending a couple of minutes in here with you is too big a risk…"

"So… do you think they'll be less likely to notice if we do it now?" Sokka asked, propping himself up with an arm. "Most of your guards will be busy with the feast and all… it might be easier to do it right away instead of waiting until tomorrow."

"Indeed," said Azula, biting her lip. "As for wasting chances for privacy… we'll be back on the Barge starting tomorrow, so we'll get back to our usual routine soon, right?"

"Right, once Renkai's out of the way," said Sokka, with a knowing smirk. Azula smiled too as she made to stand up. "But wait…"

She glanced at him just in time for Sokka to push himself up all the way. His hand cupped her face and he kissed her passionately, eagerly. The overwhelming power he put into the kiss brought her to melt in his arms, her tongue flicking against his as she slid closer to him, as though magnetized towards him by extraordinary forces of attraction. His lips worked on her knowingly, steadily, until they parted breathlessly, smiling warmly.

"Okay, now I'm ready to go," he said. Azula laughed and pressed her brow against his.

"Such a clever gladiator," she said, stroking his cheek.

They walked side by side silently, but with certainty. Azula led Sokka towards the basement's staircase, where the prison block was located. Her stance and semblance gave away that she didn't believe she owed any answers to anyone about what they were doing. She was merely fulfilling a promise, after all, and she trusted her gladiator wouldn't do anything too stupid, at least.

"Alright, he should be down these stairs," Azula said, once they reached a stone archway. "I don't know for sure what you want from him, but… like I told you, you'll have a better chance to talk to him properly if I don't go in there with you."

"I know, he wouldn't be too happy to meet the Fire Nation Princess," Sokka muttered, nodding

"It's for the best, I believe," said Azula, with a shrug. "Just… please don't make me regret this. If you do break him out, or if you do something equally stupid, I'm going to face a pretty steep punishment for it."

"I wasn't planning on doing that… not yet, anyways," said Sokka, smirking. Azula scowled at him. "Now, now, relax. I won't do anything that outrageous. I'll be back in a bit, then."

"Good luck," said Azula, eyeing him warily as Sokka breathed deeply and marched past the archway.

Sokka wasn't sure where he had to go after climbing down the stairs – Azula hadn't given him any specific directions regarding where to find Kuei. He remembered Tiang had said the King was in one of the best cells, close to the entrance of the prison block. The stairs didn't go as far down as they seemed to at first, though, as he reached a small corridor. Taking a turn at the first door available led him directly a cellblock, and then, in the very first cell…

Sokka's eyes widened. The cell was surprisingly spacious, with furniture too luxurious for a common prison cell. The bed was large, and it looked soft. There was even a small closet and a privy. Sokka's eyebrows rose as he took notice of the books and scrolls scattered across the stone floor. The commodities were surprising, especially considering the kind of prisoner who resided in this cell.

But while his clothes were of high quality, his appearance, in general, wasn't much good. The man looked pale, weak, his hair in disarray. There were food trays lying about inside the cell, several of them still sporting dishes that had long grown cold. The man's arms were folded across his chest as he sat on his bed, and his green eyes leered at Sokka, judging him quickly even though he hadn't been in the man's line of sight for longer than a few seconds.

Sokka swallowed hard and knelt before the cell door. He bowed his head towards the man, as respectfully as he could, but Kuei remained unresponsive.

"I… assume you're the Earth King," said Sokka, glancing about the cell again. "I can't imagine there's another highly prestigious prisoner here. Well, other than Long Feng, but I don't think he'd get this sort of treatment, considering…"

"Long Feng…?" Kuei spoke. His voice sounded broken, raw, as if he hadn't used it in years. Perhaps he hadn't. Sokka blinked blankly. "He's… imprisoned?"

"You weren't told? Well, I have no idea where he is, truthfully, but I heard he's under heavy security," Sokka admitted. "He was your advisor before, wasn't he? He was caught conspiring to take the throne again. For himself, though, there didn't seem to be anything to it other than a personal pursuit for power… at any rate, uh, that's probably not how I should have started this conversation, huh? Greetings, I… I'm Sokka."

"Sokka," Kuei repeated after a moment, frowning. "You're Water Tribe, aren't you? Your… your eyes."

"Yeah. I'm not from around here," said Sokka, nodding.

"Why is there a Water Tribe man sitting at my cell? How would a man like you reach Ba Sing Se?" Kuei asked, frowning. "Why would they let you come talk to me? You're not an ashmaker, or a blood traitor, or are you? Have you joined the Fire Nation, like so many of my people did?"

"I…" said Sokka, gritting his teeth. "If you're talking about becoming an Honorary Fire Nation Citizen, then no, I'm not one of them. I'm a slave. A gladiator."

"A gladiator," Kuei repeated, his eyes gleaming suddenly. "How did you get here? Is your master someone important in the Fire Nation? Someone who demanded to stay in my Palace?"

"That… I wouldn't say demanded, but I suppose you could say so, yes," said Sokka. Kuei raised his eyebrows inquisitively. "My sponsor is Princess Azula."

"The… The Fire Lord's daughter?" Kuei asked, raising his eyebrows. "Why would she involve herself in gladiatorial affairs? That's…"

"Lowly?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows. "I'd say it's a political tool for her. It's helped her gain acknowledgement as her father's heir. That's why she does it."

"And instead of choosing the strongest firebender of all, she chose you?" Kuei asked, frowning. Sokka sighed.

"Yeah, that's exactly why she chose me. I'm not what anyone expects. Doesn't stop me from winning more often than not," Sokka said, looking at Kuei skeptically. Kuei scoffed.

"Then are you a waterbender?" he asked. Sokka shook his head. "A non-bender? And yet you…? Can you really fight properly against any opponents? Well, that's… interesting. Yet I can't say I understand why you're here. If your master is someone that important, and dangerous, surely you had to sneak in here to talk to me…"

"I did, to some degree. She helped me, though," said Sokka, with a shrug. Kuei frowned.

"You jest," he said. "Helped you? That's impossible."

"Sounds impossible, no doubt," said Sokka, smiling a little. "But… she's full of surprises, you could say. Not a lot of people understand her way of thinking."

"Do you?" Kuei asked, before scoffing. "Slave or Honorary Citizen, if you think highly of any of the Fire Nation royals, you're as good as a traitor too."

Sokka gritted his teeth and lowered his head. He had known that was the likeliest route this conversation would take, yet some naïve part of him had hoped otherwise.

"I suppose you'd think that," said Sokka. "You refuse to accept any kindness that may come from the Fire Nation, don't you?"

"What sort of kindness would that even be?" Kuei growled. "Conditioned kindness? Am I to be treated as a foolish cub, berated with one hand while fed by the other? Am I to accept a life spent ruled by those who dared dethrone me?"

"Do you have a choice?" Sokka asked, looking at him with uncertainty. "This room is rather well-furnished, isn't it? And that food looks good, even if you don't want to eat it. The fact that you're allowed to live in better imprisonment conditions than most is already a form of kindness, even if one that's being forced on you."

"I'd sooner be dead," Kuei scowled. Sokka smiled. "Do you think it's funny?"

"I think you're lying," he said. Kuei scoffed.

"What would you know? Do you have any idea of what I've suffered? What I've been through? You've just become a Princess's pet, enjoying the conditioned kindness that you will be denied as soon as you step out of line! But I will not bow my head for them!"

"I suppose you won't," Sokka said, looking at him with what Kuei identified as pity. The king's stomach churned with rage at the sight. "But I wanted to die too, you know? Back when I was in the Amateur League. When I had to fight for my life constantly, killing people who didn't deserve to die merely to entertain a group of sick bastards who enjoyed the carnage. I started wanting it when I was dragged away from my people, dreading that they would be slaughtered once I wasn't there to help them. The feeling only intensified when I was lucky to eat twice a day, and when my clothes were worn and falling to shreds, when I was granted no respite other than a drink or two every six months. Yet, once it came down to it, I couldn't stand by and wait for my opponent to kill me. I couldn't stop eating. I hated myself for both those things, but I couldn't do it. Truth is, I was afraid of dying, still am. And you've been here for almost ten years, haven't you? If you'd truly prefer being dead, you already would be. I know it from experience."

Kuei fell silent now, the harsh truths he hadn't wanted to acknowledge hitting him square in the gut. The Water Tribe visitor sat with legs crossed now, his face a stern mask now.

"Azula was the reason why I ended up in the Amateur League. And, just so, she was the reason why I got out, too," he said. "She damned me and then saved me. She gave me a choice: the choice to stay in the Amateur League for however long I'd survive, or to leave with her and maybe return home if I helped her achieve her personal missions. Hoping I might find my way back to my people, I joined her. And I don't regret it at all so far."

"You'll tell me her kindness is genuine? A Fire Lord's child, having a generous spirit? That seems likely," said Kuei, scoffing. Sokka raised his eyebrows.

"How much would you know about Fire Lords and their offspring, anyway?" Sokka asked. "Excuse me for being blunt, but… I heard you barely even knew there was a war happening, and it had been raging for around a hundred years before you were locked in this cell. I'm not sure just how much you understand about the Fire Nation, their true horrors and their unexpected virtues…"

"Virtues? Seriously?" Kuei asked. "You've been forced to become a slave, and you expect to enlighten me about their virtues?"

"Do you truly believe the world is split in good and evil, as cut and dry as that?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows. Kuei frowned. "You were betrayed by your own. An Earth Kingdom man you trusted with your life was brokering deals with the Fire Nation, all in a quest for power. Your people, at this very moment, are living safe and sound under the rule of a Fire Nation governor, settling into it like sheep who simply changed masters. Long Feng was also helping torment and destroy the minds of your own people: I know for a fact that he hypnotized two men and turned them into gladiators, effectively supporting the Fire Nation's gruesome systems that way. If the Fire Nation is what's rotten in the world, how do you explain the evil your own people are perfectly capable of committing too?"

"They're…" Kuei growled, shaking his head. "Traitors. They're just… traitors. Instead of fighting back…"

"Under whose leadership?" Sokka asked. Kuei closed his eyes tightly. "Your people didn't stand a chance, King, and I'll say, I don't blame you for it. Just as I won't blame Azula for the wrongdoings of her forefathers. Her father, heh, he's quickly outdoing all competition in the 'worst Fire Lord in history' contest. But even if Azula had been hellbent on following on his footsteps in the past, she sure isn't anymore."

"How do you know this for a fact?" Kuei asked, his voice nearly a hiss. "How can you be so certain that she's somehow not as rotten as the rest? She could be tricking you, playing you into believing that, and you'd be none the wiser…"

"I know it for a fact… because she hasn't broken my spirit."

Kuei frowned, confused. Sokka breathed deeply as the King gestured in an exasperated way, waiting for Sokka to elaborate.

"I could have been just another slave. Just another tormented soul, beaten black and blue every day, fed poorly, tortured upon my every failure," Sokka said. "That's what I was in the Amateur League. But that ended when we struck our deal. And it was a deal, on equal terms. I made my demands, she made hers. We had an agreement, and that agreement has endured for the better part of two years. She has carried me on her back when she didn't have to, she has saved my life on more occasions than anyone ever expected a sponsor to save their gladiator in. She has stood by me at my worst points and forgiven my most dreadful mistakes. And she has listened to me, too, even when it came to matters she shouldn't defy her father over. She has become a better leader than her father could ever hope to be, by far. She respects me, even if she could easily look down on me and treat me as scum. That she chose to treat me as an equal, regardless of the obvious social difference between us, speaks lengths about why she's the best royal to come out of the Fire Nation in decades…"

"You speak vaguely," said Kuei, his face a mask of skepticism. "And I truthfully don't know whether I should believe any of what you've said. You accuse Long Feng of brainwashing, but I see no difference in what's happened to you."

"Which proves you don't know anything about real brainwashing," said Sokka, sighing and shaking his head. "At any rate, if you don't want to believe me, don't. But what exactly do you expect to achieve by starving yourself gradually, stuck in this cell for however long you may remain in here?"

"Achieve?" Kuei repeated. Sokka shrugged.

"Have you given up, then?" he asked. "Or are you waiting for a rebellion that will set you free and reinstate you as Earth King?"

"I… I don't… I have no such hopes," Kuei growled, but the display of nervous emotion brought Sokka to frown slightly.

"Are there enough loyalists out there still?" he asked. "I mean, I wouldn't be too upset if you were set free, truthfully I'd prefer that, but if I helped you now, Azula would know I had something to do with it and, uh… it wouldn't end well for any of us. And heck, I don't know if I should want you free at all, truthfully. You'd likely run off to join the White Lotus at first chance and…"

"The… the what?" Kuei said. Sokka huffed.

"A resistance group, extremists who were willing to even kill me just because they, like you, assumed I was a traitor," he said. "Ironic that they were eager to kill a Water Tribe man, while the Fire Nation Princess went to incredible lengths to keep me alive, instead. Kind of makes you wonder…"

"Wonder what? Who's the lesser evil?" Kuei spat, shaking his head. "You seem to have all sorts of opinions and ideas, Sokka, but you are blind to your own condition. You are a slave, and as such, they will never think you're like them. She treats you as her equal? Nonsense! The Princess may claim or pretend as much, but you will always be lesser, always be meaningless in her eyes!"

"Okay, fine," said Sokka, shrugging. "Let's say I am, and always will be, worthless scum. I mean nothing to her. I'm disposable, both to her and her father and everyone in the Fire Nation's highest circles. I think it makes sense, then, that I use whatever opportunities I can get, disposable as I am, to change the world for the better before they get rid of me. Wouldn't you agree?"

"I… you couldn't possibly have any such opportunities," said Kuei, shaking his head. "What say could you have upon their matters, truly?"

"I've demanded that the Fire Lord withdraws his troops from the South Pole," Sokka said. Kuei's eyes widened. "Yeah, I did, and as far as I know, he complied with said demands. I also stopped him from torturing White Lotus agents, regardless of my opinion on their resistance and behavior. I stopped the fabrication of bombs in the Northern Air Temple, which Ozai wanted to use to destroy the North Pole. I helped Azula on her mission to capture Fire Nation criminals who had been pillaging your people's villages, and after dismantling their entire operation, which involved the Dai Li, we helped return everyone's belongings. So, sure, I've been a very disposable bastard who's just scum in their eyes. Yet as scum I've helped save people, even if they'll never know it was me. Can you say anything of the sort for yourself, stuck in this cell as you are?"

Kuei's eyes darkened with rage. Sokka sighed and shook his head in defeat, knowing the Earth King wouldn't accept many more slights against him.

"Look, I didn't come here to make you miserable," he said. "But the truth is, you're not going to do anything for your people by staying in this cell, fuming and hating everyone who dared accept the Fire Nation rule instead of rebelling fruitlessly. You are a lucky man, you know? You're a king. They still think you're too valuable to kill even if you try to defy the Fire Nation. But you also won't change anything, you won't become Earth King again, if you just wait for the perfect rebellion to spring up spontaneously while staying in this cell. I'm not saying you need to break out and find freedom right away, but…"

"I won't go anywhere. This is my home," Kuei growled. Sokka gritted his teeth.

"I suppose it is. Yet another privilege you're allowed to keep," he said. "Some of us were torn away from our homes. Some of us don't ever get the chance to go back, or to even catch a glimpse of our loved ones again. And some of us are caught between serving the Fire Nation or dying, too. If you truly don't believe Azula can be a good person deep down, then that means you expect her to kill me if I ever piss her off beyond measure, don't you? If you're right, it means the Fire Nation's harshness remains just as unyielding as it was during the war's heyday… and while you stem here in your rage, resenting all of those who don't act against their tyranny, you're not considering that the few of those who do usually pay for it with their lives. Can you truly blame the rest of us for simply trying to survive?"

Kuei's rage only seemed to grow as the gladiator continued speaking. Sokka lowered his gaze, guessing there was no way to salvage this conversation by now.

"Nobody had any power to fight back when the Fire Nation was in the heights of its strength. Not you, not your people, not your soldiers," Sokka said. "I had no power to fight back when I was turned into a slave either. But as I am now, I'm fighting back in my own ways, no matter if it's not the way people expect me to. If I can save people, if I can keep the Fire Nation's worst ambitions at bay, then I will. And if I can help Azula find a better path, so that one day she'll become the first worthwhile Fire Lord in centuries, I'll do that too. For all we know, she might even get you out of…"

"I have told you, getting out of here, by the kindness of some Fire Lord, is the last thing I'll ever accept," said Kuei. Sokka sighed and shook his head. "I had a kingdom of my own, it was stolen from me, and I will not accept any backhanded, conditioned displays of mercy from the thieves who are responsible for it. You should understand this, gladiator."

"I do. I just disagree entirely," said Sokka, shrugging. "I won't ask you to change your mind… but you should want to take back this nation for a bigger reason than your pride and birthright. You should want to take it back so you can rule your people properly, no longer sheltered and kept in the dark by the likes of Long Feng. If your main motivation to rule is that you're sure you deserve a throne just because you were born to a royal bloodline, then maybe you wouldn't make that good a king."

"Ha! So, you're saying the Fire Lords, who have taken over lands and people who should owe them no allegiance, are allowed to believe they're entitled to everything, but I'm not?"

"Uh… did you seriously just compare yourself to the Fire Lords?" Sokka asked, raising his eyebrows. Kuei froze. "It's obvious why I'd expect better from you than from those assholes. You're the Earth King, you should love this city and these lands with your entire being. You should be attached to your people, people who saw you as a god, if what I've read is true. You should want what's best for them, and not just what's best for yourself. Ozai doesn't have it in him to give a shit about most his people, and he's proven it enough times as it is: and that's exactly why he's such a dreadful ruler, why he's destroying the entire world, his nation included, without batting an eyelash. He doesn't care. If you're supposed to be better than him, then it's because you do care. Am I wrong?"

"I…" said Kuei, frowning and shaking his head. "I don't think that's fair. I never wanted to conquer anything. I never wanted to force myself on anyone. I just… I just wanted to be a good king, and I thought I was. You say that I should care about my people, but how many of them care about me?"

"If you think all kinds of love are supposed to be reciprocal, you may not have experienced enough love to know better…" said Sokka. "Some things you just love, King Kuei, no matter how many times they reject you. No matter how many times it hurts you to love them. No matter how hard you have to fight to protect them. Because when you truly love something, you believe it's worth every effort you can make for it. And if your last breath is for their sake, so be it. At least you gave your life to doing right by that which you loved, regardless of how well you were thanked for it."

Kuei stared at him in confusion now. Sokka swallowed hard, guessing that was the best he was likely to get as it was, and stood up again. He had tried not to be too forthright regarding his obvious feelings for Azula, but if he kept talking this way, Kuei might figure him out in no time.

"I'll be leaving tomorrow," Sokka said. "Something tells me I'll meet you again one day, though…"

"Maybe by then we'll see things more similarly," said Kuei. Sokka raised his eyebrows.

"Will we? Sounds like we're both really stubborn," he said, smiling a little. To his surprise, Kuei smiled back, if only weakly.

"I will not bend to the Fire Nation. And I will resist however I can. But… I suppose you're the first visitor I've had who has posed an enigma of any kind. The only one worth talking to, if just to disagree with," he said. "Do think twice before giving your soul to them willingly, gladiator. You sound like too smart a man to lose yourself to delusions of how kind the Fire Nation may be…"

"And you sound like too strong-willed a man to stay confined in this cell instead of thinking of smarter ways to resist their rule," Sokka said, raising his eyebrows.

"And yet here we are," said Kuei. Sokka nodded, regret in his eyes.

"And yet here we are," he repeated, before bowing his head curtly towards Kuei. "Have a good night, King Kuei."

The King closed his eyes, and Sokka took his leave. He breathed deeply as he walked up the stairs, his heart uncertain. Kuei's words hadn't fazed him, not truly. He hadn't said anything others hadn't said before him. Yet there was something about the man… he didn't know for sure that Kuei had listened to him, or that he respected him at all, but Sokka couldn't help but think that the king was a man who needed a push in the right direction. Still… what would be the right direction? What should King Kuei do, in his condition of war prisoner?

He reached the top of the stairs while still pondering such thoughts. Azula's silhouette snapped him out of his thoughts, and he instantly felt better upon looking at her. He had played Kuei's game at times, pretending to accept that he was disposable for Azula, but he smiled at her now, fully aware that that wasn't the case. The Princess turned towards him quickly upon hearing his footsteps, concern aglow in her gold eyes, but she loosened up slightly when she saw the small smile on his face.

"Well, that was faster than I expected," she said. Sokka shrugged. "Did he refuse to talk?"

"No, we did have a conversation, believe it or not," said Sokka. Azula smirked.

"First, you go toe-to-toe with me. Then you make my father acknowledge your existence, and now you're the first person to hold an actual conversation with King Kuei in months, if not years, from what I hear. You have a way with royals, looks like."

"Do I?" Sokka asked, amused. "Well, I wasn't aware of it until you pointed it out, but I guess I do."

"What did you talk about, then?" Azula asked, as Sokka led the way through the Palace corridors.

"What you'd expect, really. He seemed surprised to know Long Feng was imprisoned, I guess nobody bothered telling him that…"

"Possibly out of fear that he would have been the true mastermind of their whole operation," said Azula, shrugging. Sokka looked at her skeptically before she explained herself further. "While it's well known that Kuei was Long Feng's puppet, it's always been a latent theory that he wasn't quite that submissive, and that Long Feng's attempts to consort with the Fire Nation were part of some sort of elaborate plan to overthrow Tiang eventually… it's far-fetched, no doubt, but part of the Fire Nation's success through the war came from never taking anything for granted and rooting out threats long before they could blossom."

"Sounds like it," said Sokka, grimacing. "So I suppose I don't look like much of a threat, huh? Not to you, or to your father…"

"Oh, you don't to him. You sure do look like one to me, always have," she said, smiling a little. "I suppose that's why you seemed worthy of respect, after all. Either way, I hope you didn't talk about the wonders of Fire Nation royals to him, or else I figure your entire conversation must have derailed into an argument…"

"It nearly did," Sokka admitted, with a weak grin. "I let him think I actually could believe you were just playing me, and that I was being naïve about you, though. I figured it might make it sound like I wasn't, well… you know."

"Sensible," said Azula, nodding. "Hopefully he bought it."

"I think he might have, on some measure," Sokka said, shrugging. "Still, I'm not sure I made any progress. It really sounds like… like he had no idea what he was supposed to be king for. Like he resents not only the Fire Nation, but also his own people for not fighting his battles for him."

"What's worse in his case is that he's not completely wrong to feel that way," said Azula. "Long Feng betrayed him, his army wasn't strong enough to fight ours, his people settled complacently into the Fire Nation's rule. He was no good as a ruler, of course, which reflected directly on how his people would behave… but his life was chosen for him long before he could live it, from the sound of it."

"I suppose, but I don't know if he realized as much until he was imprisoned," said Sokka, sighing and shaking his head. "He's probably a good man, but he's the first royal I've met who seemed to have absolutely no power over his own life and decisions. He wants to be more than just a puppet, and he genuinely thought he was more than that… it can't be easy for him to accept otherwise."

"I wouldn't expect it to be," said Azula, as they reached their bedrooms again. "At any rate… I suppose you didn't do anything that bad, then?"

"Such as antagonizing him beyond measure?" Sokka asked, playfully. "Nah. I save all that for you."

"So thoughtful. I definitely want to hoard all your capacity to irritate people," she said, her words ringing with sarcasm. It brought a smile to Sokka's face. "I don't know if that's better or worse, though. On one hand, I'm glad you didn't make yet another enemy… on another, I'll probably worry on a daily basis about you potentially betraying me to join forces with King Kuei…"

"Ah, I'm dying to do that, of course," Sokka said, smirking. "As is obvious, I just can't take one more day under your orders, Princess."

"I suppose I have made your life that unbearable, haven't I?" she said, with a dramatic sigh. "I shall live with your resentment, gladiator, if I don't decide to bolster it instead…"

Sokka chuckled as she walked to her door. She gave him a genuine smile as she slipped inside the room, and he mouthed 'good night' to her before she closed the door. He sighed once she was out of sight, relieved that they would have more opportunities to be alone together starting tomorrow…

It would do better to focus on that than to dwell on his conversation with Kuei, at any rate. The man was as stubborn and close-minded as most others who had accused Sokka of being a traitor, and he might just become just like them if he were to ever break free. As it was, it was actually convenient that he would want to stay locked in his Palace. There was no telling what the White Lotus factions would dare do if they had the support of the rightful Earth King…

Yet Sokka found himself thinking there was more to Kuei than met the eye. Maybe he was too hopeful, too naïve, as the king had claimed… but he wanted to believe his words had reached the man somehow. He wanted to hope that, if Azula had been able to change her views on the world, Kuei might change his own in time, too. Expecting it to happen over a single conversation would be too foolish. But perhaps the next time they came to Ba Sing Se… perhaps by then he could visit the king again and, with any luck, the man would have reconsidered his position. Perhaps by then Kuei would be closer to understanding what it truly meant to be a king.

---

"Take care of yourself, my dearest," Myeung had said, smiling warmly at her daughter as they stood at the Palace doors.

Song's eyes were tearful, but her smile was as bright as it could be. She held her mother's hands in her own while they said their goodbyes. The entire Royal Procession and their guests were already in the front yard, with only Rui Shi standing near Song and her mother.

"I will. You have to look after yourself too, mom," said Song, giggling softly. "I'll be back, though. I'll see you again whenever the Princess comes to Ba Sing Se, for sure."

"I shall wait as patiently as I can until then, Song," said Myeung, cupping her daughter's cheek with a hand.

She glanced at Rui Shi now, smiling at him too. The Imperial Guard smiled, a slow blush reaching his cheeks. His helmet was off, since Azula wasn't going to give him any grief for breaking etiquette right now.

"Take good care of each other, both of you," Myeung said. Rui Shi and Song grinned brightly and nodded. "Have a safe trip back home."

"We will. Thanks for everything," said Rui Shi, bowing his head towards Myeung as Song moved in for a tight hug.

Despite they were far more ready to leave than Song was, the others were finishing their goodbyes as well. Ty Lee was happier than she had been in weeks, but she still wasn't too pleased about leaving the city and a brand-new friend behind.

"I'll write to you!" Ty Lee said, hugging Jin, who smiled and patted her back.

"I'll write back, don't doubt it," she said. "You'll be welcome in the Palace whenever you want to come to Ba Sing Se. Both of you."

Haru smiled and nodded gratefully, while Ty Lee's grip around her friend tightened. Jin chuckled.

"Who knows, maybe the next time you drop by I'll have convinced Tiang to bring a circus into the city…"

"Oh! That would be wonderful! We could all see it together!" Ty Lee exclaimed, clapping happily as she finally pulled away. Jin nodded and smiled.

"It's a promise, then!" she said. Ty Lee laughed and turned to Haru, happily.

"Would you like to see the circus, Haru?" she asked. He chuckled and shrugged.

"I can't see why not. It should be fun," he said, to his sponsor's joy and bliss.

As they made their plans, Azula was speaking with Ba Sing Se's governor. Tiang bowed his head respectfully towards the Princess before seeing her off.

"It was my pleasure to host you," Tiang said, smiling. Azula smirked.

"I suppose it must have been a pleasure this time around, considering how chaotic my first two visits were," she said. Sokka, beside her, snorted.

"Yeah, we didn't have enough life-or-death situations for a trip to Ba Sing Se. No crazy conspiracies to uncover, next to no conflicts outside of the arena… that's beyond wrong," Sokka said, shaking his head while Azula rolled her eyes.

"If you think it's boring, I'll just toss you into the ocean once we're on our way home and then you'll have to swim after the Barge for the rest of the trip. It should keep you entertained…"

"Hey!"

"Well, I, for one, am glad you could finally have an uneventful stay in Ba Sing Se," Tiang laughed. "I hope you'll come by again soon, too."

"If the opportunity arises, we will," Azula said. Tiang smiled and nodded.

"My men will escort your people to the Barge safely," he said. "Have a pleasant trip home, Princess."

"Thank you, Governor," said Azula, bowing her head curtly towards him while Sokka simply waved goodbye dorkily.

Everything had gone surprisingly smoothly during their stay in Ba Sing Se, and it seemed all would remain peaceful as they traveled across the Earth Kingdom, on their way back home, yet thoughts about Kuei still rounded Sokka's mind. He made sure to enjoy his chances for privacy with Azula, but if they couldn't be together, he would often be found deep in thought on the main deck reflecting on that conversation, still wondering how Kuei's confusing situation should be handled. Would it make any sense to help him out of prison? It didn't look like the man could handle being a fugitive, living on the edge of a knife every day, and Sokka certainly didn't want to risk him joining the White Lotus… but not releasing him left him uneasy either way. The memory of King Bumi's coffin, suspended in midair, made him wonder if the old man might still be alive today. Would the same fate await Kuei if he tried to rebel in any significant way? Would he be chained, restrained, held out in the cruelest form of humiliation, teetering on the barrier between the living and the dead…? He hoped not. But hopes hardly amounted to anything in a world torn by war.

Yet it was hope that guided Haru in his quest for his family, and hope what made him anxious as they neared the western Earth Kingdom's main port, a week after they had left Ba Sing Se. Ty Lee always stood with him by now, and in truth, neither of them had looked this happy before. Whatever they had talked about had settled their differences properly, and everyone was pleased for that. But, regardless of his hopes, Haru couldn't help but fear that things might not go so well once their search began properly…

"It's fine to be nervous, Haru, don't feel bad about it," Ty Lee was saying, smiling warmly at him as the Barge slowed at the docks. His mouth was dry, his eyes were wide and his hands twitched anxiously.

"I just… we'll find the merchant first," he said, nodding promptly. "A-and then, once we know about my mother, we'll… we'll find her if she's nearby, right? If she's not, then… we'll go to the prison rig. And then my father might just be there. My father…"

Ty Lee smiled fondly and pressed her head to his shoulder. Haru bit his lip, clasping her hand in his, hoping that would ease her too. She was remarkably empathetic, he knew as much, and his anxiety was easily contagious for her.

Ty Lee's natural enthusiasm had returned after their frank conversation, and the two of them felt far more stable than ever before. While Ty Lee hadn't been too happy to leave Ba Sing Se after having bonded so quickly with Jin, she still seemed determined to give her all to this new mission. She constantly chatted with Haru about what places she wanted to visit in the Earth Kingdom, but nowadays she also listened intently as he told her about his hometown, and the few places he had been able to travel to before the war tore his family apart.

"He was your hero, wasn't he?" Ty Lee asked. "Your father… if he raised you, he must have been a wonderful man."

"He… he was," said Haru, with a warm smile. "I just hope… oh, I don't even know what to hope for. But… I hope he's proud of me, at least."

"He should be. I mean, look at you!" she said, laughing. "You're a brilliant earthbender, Haru, and the best man I've ever known. So yes! He has to be proud!"

Haru laughed as Ty Lee hugged him again. Instead of being startled by her gesture, he simply wrapped an arm around her waist and tucked his face into her neck.

"Thank you," he said, surprising her. "Regardless of the outcome, I… I'm really glad you wanted to do this with me."

"We're a team in every way we can be, Haru. At least, we should be," Ty Lee said, as she pulled away. "I want to be here for you."

"And you are. I'm really glad that you are," he said, laughing and holding her hand gently.

He still wasn't as openly affectionate as Ty Lee was, but a lot had changed in him since their thorough conversation. Her heart couldn't seem to beat at a normal rate anymore, constantly speeding up whenever he held her hand, or embraced her, or smiled at her. They had shared rooms at the Palace again, and although they hadn't indulged in sex so far, it had been even more intimate to lie down together and talk about their lives, discovering everything they had ever been too hesitant to share with each other until now.

The ship pulled up, and the sailors ensured to anchor the large vessel safely. Azula showed up after a few minutes, exiting the ship's tower while projecting the expected image of perfection she ever did in her golden armor. The deck was crowded, as all her assigned guards and guests were there at the moment.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked Ty Lee and Haru, who nodded promptly, hand in hand. "Very well, then. I'll go to the market with you, even though you might be able to do this on your own, but my authority might just yield you some answers faster, right?"

"That… that would be really helpful, Princess," said Haru, nodding again.

"Alright, then. Sokka?" Azula called, startling him out of his daze. "Will you stay there, staring into space, or would you rather come with us?"

"I… sure. I guess I'll go," said Sokka, blinking blankly but speeding his way towards them.

"You're free not to come along if you don't care to, I'm just accustomed to dragging you with me everywhere by now," Azula said casually, with a shrug before turning to her guards. "Anyways, Captain Fei Li, Haoren, Qiang, Taro, you'll come along too."

"O-oh, sure!" said Fei Li, stepping forward nervously. "But why not Rui…?"

"He's staying behind, in charge of the ship's security," said Azula, with a curt grin. Fei Li seemed surprised, but he nodded anyways.

"I won't fail you, Princess," said Rui Shi, ceremoniously. Azula nodded as she gestured at the selected group to accompany her down the ramp.

"Good luck!" Song called out from the deck, once they were halfway down. Haru smiled warmly at her and waved as he followed Ty Lee towards the wooden docks.

The split between the guards surprised one of them, and not pleasantly. Renkai quickly considered protesting, demanding to be allowed to follow the Princess… but he knew that wouldn't go over well. He'd only earn himself more of her enmity, and he'd already had enough of it for a lifetime as it was.

So he glared after them, still pondering if the gladiator was the weak link to be exploited to take down the Princess. Shaofeng was certain the Princess was hatching treasonous plans, and if the gladiator was as close to her as he seemed to be, he just might be part of them… or perhaps he was the mastermind, even.

As it was, he couldn't know. But he intended to unravel as much of this mystery as he could before the trip was over.

The Earth Kingdom harbor was similar to the one Azula and Sokka had visited on their latest trek through these territories. It stood at the foot of a tall mountain and it was bustling with activity. Still, the people in the port didn't have the best appearances: the poor mingled among themselves, it seemed to Azula, and the richest people around would have to be the merchants, who still couldn't seem to afford better clothes than the common ones they were selling on their stalls. She didn't intend to spend the whole day detailing the area, though:

"Lead the way, Haru," Azula said, glancing at the earthbender. He nodded.

The earthbending gladiator and his sponsor helmed the group while Azula walked with Sokka and her guards. Ty Lee's voice drifted all the way to where they were, though.

"It mustn't be very comfortable, being here again and all, but… I'm here to support you if you need me, okay?"

"I know you are. Thank you," Haru replied softly, clasping her hand in his as he took a left.

The merchant's post he was looking for seemed to be located past the most winding and confusing paths in the bay's market. Heads turned towards them as they walked, for even Haru, the most modestly dressed member of their party, looked remarkably well-nourished and healthy compared to everyone else nearby. Azula caught her guards scrutinizing their surroundings quite boldly, watching for pickpockets.

"It's not like anyone could steal anything of value from you, so no need to worry," Sokka said, upon noticing Azula's eyes were straying towards the people who lined the streets, their vacant eyes stabbing at her soul like daggers.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Azula asked, glancing at him with uncertainty. He chuckled.

"I seem to remember a Princess doesn't carry pocket money with her… or did that change when I wasn't looking?" he teased. Azula smiled and shook her head.

"Amusing as ever, you dork," she said. Sokka only chuckled further.

At last, Haru stopped. The entire group moved towards the stall he was standing at, but it was empty. Haru's green eyes were downcast by now. The merchant had probably closed shop barely a few moments before they got there.

"Oh… w-well, we can always come back after the prison rig visit, right?" said Ty Lee, rubbing Haru's arm gently as he glanced around himself with uncertainty. "Haru…?"

"Maybe someone can tell us where to find him," he said, gritting his teeth and looking over his shoulder. "Maybe…"

He gasped, as his eyes saw several figures trekking up through the mountains. They walked on the winding roads that led to the community settlements where most people lived. The settlements where Haru himself had been forced to sleep at several times before being sold. If the man had closed up for today, he'd likely be there.

"He's bound to be in those huts, up there," Haru said. "If I can't find him now, we'll come back and look again later. But for now…"

"I guess this couldn't be that straightforward," Azula sighed. "Alright, let's go then. The sooner we're back in the Barge, the better."

They wasted no time in climbing up this new road, this time with the guards distributed around the gladiators and their sponsors. The hike upwards was difficult, but they succeeded at reaching the first huts in the area. Haru seemed more uncertain about which hut to look for this time, but eventually he led them towards a small one, to the left.

There was no door, nor was there a curtain, so they could see the silhouette of the man inside the rugged building, shadows draped across his hunched shape. Haru swallowed hard and tried to still himself before sliding through the open doorway and speaking to the man.

"Hello. I… do you remember me?" he started off, uncertain.

The man raised his head warily, and his eyes widened upon looking at Haru and the rest of the group. He probably wouldn't have been too responsive if he had been dealing with commoners instead.

"You…" he said, detailing Haru again before frowning. "Huh. I… I sold you, didn't I? Oh, the days when I sold slaves, bleh. What a waste of money."

"A… a waste?" Haru said, eyes widening. "I mean, yes, you did sell me, I was an earthbender and…"

"Heh, that good-for-nothing nobleman wanted you, yes…" said the man, rubbing his nose carelessly. "I should've charged him more, but I was desperate. Selling people's a waste of time, I tell you…"

"Of course it was," Haru said, in an unusual outburst of anger. "But leaving that aside, what happened to my mother? Did you sell her too? There was a woman with me, her hair was gray and…"

"Hmm, do I remember?" the man said, with a small smile. "Y-you gotta help me out here, kid, and I don't mean with descriptions…"

He stretched his hand out, his eyes gleaming with desperation. Haru grimaced, but to his surprise, Ty Lee stepped forward and handed the man a few coins. A soft, disbelieving laugh left the man's lips.

"Do you remember now?" Ty Lee asked, skeptically.

"About this boy's mother? Heh, she was the last one I had left and nobody'd buy her," said the man, waving a hand carelessly. "I just told her to go. What was the point? She was too old, and around these parts slavery's a bad business, makes no money…"

"It's almost never good business for the slaves either, but I doubt that kept you up at night," Sokka growled, unable to restrain himself. Azula reached out her hand, at first to appease him, but on second thought, she stretched it before his body as though to hold him back. Touching him too casually, even if in front of guards she trusted, wouldn't be a good idea.

"You just let her go, then?" Haru repeated, perplexed. "W-what do you…? What do you mean? Where did she go?"

"Beats me. Probably somewhere better. Maybe to a farm. Then at least she'd get something to eat, that's more than I got when she was here," said the man, seemingly impervious to anyone's judgment of his dreadful life choices.

"So, she's… free?" Haru said, eyes wide.

"I said so, didn't I?" said the man. "Unless some poor idiot tried to make her a slave after I let her go. Tough luck selling her at all, if they tried…"

"Is that all you know?" Ty Lee asked, unwilling to keep listening to the man's unpleasant, casual rambling about slaves. He shrugged.

"Can't say I remember much else, though if you wanna spare a few more coins…"

"I might spare them if you give me something more," Ty Lee said, stubbornly. The man sighed.

"I don't have more. I'm old and I forget things."

"Well, I suppose you'll enjoy whatever you can buy with what we already gave you. Maybe you'll find a decent business for yourself instead of selling people and complaining about it," Ty Lee said, glowering at him. "You should be ashamed of yourself."

The man shrugged, as though he couldn't care less for her words. Perhaps he already was ashamed enough without her reprimands… perhaps he couldn't care less for them, too.

"Then… my mother's free," said Haru, looking at the group in disbelief. "My mother's… still alive."

"And out there, somewhere," said Azula, frowning. "I suppose the question would be where. Perhaps your old hometown? Would she have returned there?"

"Possibly. It's the best place to start looking, if nothing else," said Haru, smiling a little. Azula nodded.

"Then we're ready to leave. We're still heading to the prison rig first, aren't we?"

"It's what we had decided," Sokka agreed. "Though… what's closer? Do you think it's better to look for your mother or your father, Haru?"

"I… I think my father should be easier to find," he said, with an awkward smile. "If the Princess's information is correct, at the very least. Tracking down my mother won't be easy, so I guess it's better to start with my father. We can discover if he's really there before searching for my mother…"

"As you'd have it. Let's get out of here," Azula said, gesturing at them to follow her back to the bay. Haru nodded, glancing one more time at the store owner. The man was giving him a groggy smile as the rest of the group filed out of the small hut.

"You made it, though, boy… look at that kind of company you've got," he said, chuckling. "Good to know you got something good out of everything, in the end…"

"I… I did," Haru said, with a weak smile. "Thanks for the help."

"Eh, what're you thanking me for? I took your girl's money, didn't I?" he laughed, waving a hand at Haru and moving towards a small bed. "Good luck, earthbender boy."

Haru nodded, leaving without another word. His search was only beginning but finding such an early clue was a good sign, or so he hoped.

The prison rig was bound to be a different story, though. They returned to the Barge as quickly as they could and started the journey towards their next destination, but a sense of foreboding filled all who set eyes upon the large structure, once they spotted it in the horizon.

It was the epitome of the Fire Nation's worst industrial undertakings, and the water around it looked dark and polluted. A ship in poor shape was being fixed, it was visible even at a distance, for it was immense, just as the many holes in its keel. Everything looked to be metallic, and the smoke rising through the building's chimneys was thick and dark, reminding Sokka of the accursed ships that used to plague his homeland.

"That's the one?" Haru asked Azula, who frowned and nodded solemnly.

"That's the rig. And as you can probably tell from here, it's a very nasty place, too. Don't do anything stupid," she said, before glancing at Sokka specifically. "You, in particular…"

"Okay, I know I nearly went off on that guy, but he was saying some pretty disturbing crap," Sokka grumbled, shaking his head.

"What that man said is probably nothing compared with what these soldiers might say," Azula declared, glaring at the tall structure. "We have a very specific goal in mind here, and I advise you all to focus on it."

"Fair enough…" said Sokka, pouting as the ship stopped by the rig's own docks.

The same group of guards was to join Azula, Sokka, Haru and Ty Lee in the prison rig. This time, however, it was Azula who led the march. The soldiers who caught sight of her gasped and made clumsy reverences, but she hardly acknowledged them. Only once they were inside the central building did she finally address one of the soldiers before her.

"Where's the warden?" Azula asked. "I would like to speak with him."

"H-he's surely busy, but he should be here shortly. I can look for him, if you'd like," said the soldier, nervously. Azula nodded.

"Be quick about that. We have no time to waste," she declared.

The soldier bolted away quickly and returned five minutes later with a pale man, with wrinkled skin and gray hair. His greedy, eager eyes spoke for themselves: perhaps he hoped for a promotion, or a raise…

"Princess Azula, I am so honored to…!"

"I have come here looking for a prisoner," Azula cut him promptly. The man's monologue was interrupted, something he didn't seem to take kindly to, yet something he couldn't possibly complain about either: the Princess wasn't someone to trifle with. "Where can I find, uh…? Haru, what does he look like? What's his name?"

"His name is Tyro," Haru clarified. "He's tall, well-built… well, at least he was when I last saw him. His voice is deep, and…"

"I'm sorry, Princess, but that's a very vague description," said the warden, with a derisive smile. "Surely you don't expect me to know if…"

"Oh, do I take this to mean that you don't know your own prisoners?" Azula asked, raising her eyebrows. "Well, that's eye-opening. Perhaps you shouldn't be a warden at all, if that's so."

"I…! I only mean, there are many prisoners! And there's enough of them that we're always busy, so I hardly see them…"

"You hardly know them because of your responsibilities, then. Of course," said Azula, rolling her eyes skeptically. "If that's so, you're of no use to us. Where are the prisoners?"

"They should be working, Princess. Some may be in the resting area by now, but…"

"Good, that will do," said Azula. "Where is this resting area, then?"

"I… suppose my soldiers can lead you there," said the man, droplets of sweat rolling down his face. Azula raised her eyebrows.

"Ah, am I to assume you don't know where the resting area is, just as you don't know your prisoners?" she asked. The man jumped.

"N-not at all! I mean, my men could guide you, b-but if you prefer…!"

"As you'd have it, then. Send for your soldiers, if that's how you want it," she said curtly. The warden tensed up before nodding and bowing before her.

"You shall be guided to the resting area briefly, Princess," he said, dashing off to choose any soldiers who could fulfill the Princess's demands.

Her harshness stemmed from many sources, but the main one was the man's initial arrogant smirk. He was proud of himself, of everything he'd done here. Of everything he had been doing over the course of decades now. Her father had found inspiration in him when developing the basic concepts of slavery in the Fire Nation, and surely this warden thought that was the greatest honor of all. The cost of such glory didn't faze him, did it?

"Is it alright with you if I don't accompany you to the resting area right away?" Azula asked suddenly. The whole group looked at her in surprise. "It seems there are many matters I'll have to straighten out with this warden once he gets back here."

"You'll…? What do you plan to do?" Sokka asked, surprised. Azula's eyes narrowed.

"What no one has bothered to do so far. Whatever I can do, with the power I currently have," she said, sighing and shaking her head. "You can go with them, if you want."

"I'll stay," Sokka decided, immediately. Azula rolled her eyes. "Hey, you said if I wanted to, well, I don't, so…"

"You're unruly even when people are trying to be nice to you," Azula said, looking at him skeptically. "Do what you will, then."

"I intended to," Sokka said, with a small smile.

The warden returned with a soldier, an anxious smile on his face. The soldier with him was younger, and he appeared uneasy about working with the Princess.

"I'm glad you were quick, at the very least," Azula told the warden before looking at the other soldier. "You'll take my companions and guards to the resting area, if you would be so kind. I believe I must have a word with the warden in the meantime."

"As you wish, Princess," said the man, bowing respectfully as Ty Lee, Haru and the guards followed him.

The warden frowned upon noticing that one of Azula's companions wouldn't leave with the rest of the group. He thought to ask the tall foreigner to go as well, but the man's cold blue eyes were set on him with such fierceness that the warden didn't dare speak. Not until the Princess spoke first, at least.

"I would like a full report on the current state of this facility," Azula said. The warden's eyes widened. "Specifically when it comes to the workforce, if I should even beautify these prisoners with such a name."

"Well, Princess…" said the warden, with that arrogant smirk again. "The facilities are in good shape, we have produced quite a fair share of ships as of late, though I have heard the workload will decrease soon because of the new airships. That… is inconvenient for us, I suppose, as it means our income shall diminish, but it would seem there's nothing to be done about it."

"There isn't," Azula said, curtly. The warden swallowed hard.

"At any rate, if you believe that the prison isn't in good shape, I would need an increase of budget so I can provide improve-…"

"I'm not here to offer you more money, warden," Azula snapped. The man flinched.

"T-then… what are you here for?" he asked. Azula breathed deeply.

"That man, the one who described the prisoner he was looking for? He's a friend of mine. His father is an earthbender. One of many earthbenders who were dragged here under your orders and forced to work in miserable conditions. He wanted to find his father, of course, whereas I wanted to find out what kind of life his father was living while he was your prisoner…"

"I… oh, I've always been careful to keep the prisoners in line, if that's what you're worried about," the man laughed. Azula didn't mirror the gesture, and neither did Sokka, whose rage only seemed to strengthen at those words. "The threat of the earthbenders is completely under control in this facility."

"Hmm. That seems to be the case," Azula said, raising her eyebrows. "Just how often do you feed them?"

"Oh, they get two meals a day," said the man, smiling. Azula nodded, while Sokka looked at her doubtfully.

"How about clothing? Sleeping facilities?"

"That… they, well, we procure them new clothes with, uh, some frequency, but not too often, or they might slack off," the man laughed. "As for sleeping, they have blankets, yes…"

"Blankets," Azula repeated. "On their beds, or sleeping bags, then?"

"I-I mean… yes. Of course, their cots," the man said. Azula finally smiled, shaking her head and glancing at the ceiling.

"I suppose I should commend you, warden," she said, surprising both the man and Sokka. "I can't remember ever meeting a man who would lie to my face as blatantly as you're doing it right now."

"I…! P-Princess, whatever do you mean…?!"

"I suppose we'll be heading to the resting area now, too," Azula said, with a dry grin. "Coming, Sokka?"

"Right behind you," he said, as the two of them moved in the direction they'd seen Haru, Ty Lee and the rest disappearing through.

"Princess! I am not lying, I…!"

"If that's the case, I'm sure you don't mind if I corroborate it with my own eyes," Azula said.

"T-there were cots, Princess, but many of them were too worn, and we haven't had a chance to replace the lost ones…" the warden assured her. "As for the meals, surely you'll understand that sometimes there aren't enough provisions and…"

"And feeding the soldiers and yourself is a natural priority," said Azula, smiling still at him. "How often do you eat, warden? How large are your rations?"

"I…! Surely you don't expect me to live in the same conditions as…" the warden started. Sokka snarled angrily, and Azula shot him a warning glare before stopping on her tracks and turning towards the warden.

"You have no idea who this man is, do you?" she asked, gesturing at Sokka. The warden swallowed hard. "He's my gladiator. A slave. A man whose entire life is supposed to be spent serving me, and only me."

"That…" said the warden, looking at Sokka warily now. The man had looked dangerous all along, but a gladiator? And with that appearance, he had to be a foreigner… he had to repress the feelings of rejection and distaste that arose upon realizing the Fire Nation Princess had hired a foreigner over her own kin.

"Now, curiously, that means you and I have something in common," said Azula, crossing her arms over her chest. "You have quite a lot of slaves working day and night for you, don't you? Working harder than you ever have, to say the least. How many have died on duty, I wonder?"

"How is that relevant?" the warden asked, with derision. "If that man is but a slave, then you understand, Princess, that slaves aren't worth…"

"A slave is a direct reflection of their master," Azula said, her eyes glowing with fury now. The warden's heart sank. "If you, as a slave holder, have no respect for the people whose lives you're exploiting for your own ends, then you don't deserve to be the commanding officer of this facility."

"I… what?!" the man said, his eyes wide. "Princess, pardon me, but there are no such laws or rules or…! No one has ever said that a man must treat a slave in one way or another, they're merely…!"

"Oh, they're merely slaves. Earth Kingdom people, earthbenders, lesser than you, no doubt," said Azula, looking at the man dangerously. "Still, I am a Princess. If they're lesser than you, then you, by natural law, are lesser than me, aren't you?"

"Y-you, well…"

"So, if I gave my gladiator the command to beat you to death right here… he might just fulfill it, fueled by his loyalty to me, which I have earned throughout my tenure as his sponsor. From what I constantly hear, gladiators and slaves generally wouldn't be willing to kill or die for their masters, but in Sokka's case, he sure seems willing to do that for me. And you're rubbing me the wrong way, so…"

"No, no, wait!" the warden exclaimed, as Sokka cracked his knuckles.

"Isn't it funny?" Azula said, with a dramatic sigh. "I have given my gladiator all the commodities, the food, the clothes, all the freedom he could ask for, and here he is, willing to comply with my demands just like that. And I barely have to order him to do it, he's just ready to fulfill my every whim…"

"Especially when they align with my own desires," Sokka growled. Azula smiled.

"Yet here you are… cowering before us, with no one to help you," Azula said. "If I dragged you into the resting area, and called forth the prisoners you've been mistreating for years, asking them to duel Sokka to save your life… how many do you think would just side with Sokka instead, begging him to finish you off as painfully as possible?"

The warden's eyes twitched with fear as he sought any sign of mercy or weakness in Azula's perfect stance. There was none to be found, let alone in the icy glare of her companion.

"You see, there's a problem with this superiority mentality you have been riding off of for years," Azula said, closing her eyes. "There's always someone stronger, always. This rig of yours is your world, no doubt, but you have no power over me. You have no power over him."

She jerked her head towards Sokka. He raised his head menacingly.

"And you have no power to stop me if I decide I want you dead," she said, stepping closer to the man. "Ah, but rest assured, warden… I guess I don't want you dead. I just want you demoted."

"D-demoted? B-but why?!" the warden exclaimed, as Azula resumed her stride.

"You've killed more prisoners than you can count. You've mistreated them for years on end, without even procuring the basic commodities that you should be capable of providing for them," Azula recited, as they reached the doors that led into the resting area.

Said doors were the only way through the tall metal wall that kept the prisoners confined to the resting area. Azula scowled as she waited for the gates to open, and soon enough they began sliding upwards. Rows of metal doors, all positioned at equal intervals through the wall, barred the way into the resting area: another measure of security against potentially dangerous prisoners.

"I have seen for myself, countless times, that the more successful gladiators are the ones who are treated as equals," Azula said. "Regardless of their social status, their performance can be extraordinary as long as a sponsor encourages their training and provides them with whatever they may need, to a fault. Slaves are supposed to be forced to work for their masters because their masters require a service, isn't that right? And a half-starved, poorly rested man, whose entire life is spent being belittled by a master who can't even keep track of how many slaves he's killed, is never going to provide that service as effectively as a slave who hasn't been mistreated. Truthfully, it's a matter of common…"

They had crossed all the gates, and they had reached the resting area when Azula fell silent.

A quick scan of the area would have told Azula that all prisoners were clothed in rags, with a long, worn tunic over their garments. The resting area was barely protected from the ocean that spread far and wide before them, but there were small huts lining the resting area: the sleeping quarters, or so it would seem.

But it was impossible to focus on the details, or to take in the conditions of the resting area at all, when Ty Lee and Haru were standing before them, the four guards standing between most prisoners and the gladiator and his sponsor. One prisoner stood in front of Haru, but he didn't match Haru's earlier description of his father: he was short and lanky instead. For a moment Azula found herself hoping that Haru simply had misremembered his father, or that the warden had abused of the man to such extreme that he had lost his physical build completely…

But Haru's head was hunched. He was shaking, and tears were dripping down his cheeks, tumbling down to the metal floor. Ty Lee, beside him, covered her mouth with her hands, and the tears on the corners of her eyes glistened just as much as Haru's did.

Azula's already bad mood worsened instantly. She hadn't wanted to think it, she hadn't wanted to even contemplate the possibility… but as she stood there, beside a shocked and indignant Sokka, she understood the very worst-case scenario had come to pass, likely long before any of them could do anything to stop it: Tyro had become yet another casualty of the warden's ruthless regime.